“Now, Hannah,” her mother chided. “The baron has been nothing but the soul of kindness this entire week. He’s brought you flowers every day.”

It was true that Lord Belgrave had made his courtship intentions clear. But despite his outward courtesy, Hannah couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. He was almost too perfect.

“I’m not feeling up to a dance just now,” she said, though she knew the excuse would never hold.

“You are perfectly well,” her mother insisted. “And you cannot turn down an invitation to dance. It would be rude.”

Hannah clamped her lips together, suppressing the urge to argue. Her mother would never bend when it came to appropriate behavior. With any luck, the dance would be over in three minutes.

“Smile, for the love of heaven,” her mother repeated. “You look as though you’re about to faint.”

Without waiting for her reply, Lady Rothburne flounced away, just as Baron Belgrave arrived to claim his dance.

Hannah forced a smile upon her face and prayed that the remaining hours would pass quickly. And as the baron swept her into the next dance, she caught a glimpse of the lieutenant watching them, an unreadable darkness upon his face.

Lieutenant Michael Thorpe had a sixth sense for trouble. He often perceived it before it struck, which had served him well on the battlefield.

It was happening again. Intuition pricked at his conscience, when he saw Lady Hannah about to dance with Baron Belgrave. Whether she knew it or not, the suitors were circling her like sharks. There wasn’t a man among them who didn’t want to claim her.

Including himself.

She was an untouched angel. Innocent of the world, and yet he recognized the weariness in her green eyes. Her caramel-brown hair had been artfully arranged with sprigs of jasmine, while her gown was purest white. It irritated him that her parents treated her as a marital offering to be served out to debauched males.

Like the dog that he was, he wanted to snarl at her suitors, warning them to stay the hell away. But what good would come of it, except embarrass her among her family and friends?

No. Better to remain in the shadows and keep watch over her. He’d seen so much death and war in the past few months, he felt the need to protect something fragile and good. Soon enough, he’d have to go back to the Crimean Peninsula. He’d have to face the demons and ghosts he’d left behind, and, more than likely, a bullet would end his life.

For now, he would savor this last taste of freedom before the Army ordered him back to the battleground. He glared at Belgrave, watching the pair of them on the dance floor. For a brief moment he imagined himself holding a woman like Hannah in his arms.